1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: In nineteen eighty six, musician miguelan Quil Villavicencio was sitting 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: with his friends at a restaurant in a small town 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: in Anjapari, Olivia's tropical region. At the time, this place 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:16,119 Speaker 1: was also an epicenter for cocaine production. The owner of 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:19,959 Speaker 1: the restaurant interrupts his conversation and tells Miguelankle that someone 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,119 Speaker 1: at the door is looking for him. He gets up slowly. 7 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: He starts walking toward the door, and the first bullet 8 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: went through his jaw before he even hit the ground. 9 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: The second bullet hit his spine. He lay stunned on 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: the ground, and when he tried getting up, he noticed 11 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: that his legs weren't responding. To make sure that he 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:50,840 Speaker 1: was dead, the gunman fired two more times. 13 00:00:53,159 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 2: From Futuro Media, it's Latino Usa. I'm Maria Inojosa. 14 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: His friends immediately threw him in the back of a 15 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: pickup and rushed him through the jungle to the nearest hospital. 16 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 1: And by the way, we hired an actor to translate 17 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 1: Megilankle's words. 18 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 3: The most likely scenario was bleeding to death on the 19 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 3: way to the hospital. So when I realized that I 20 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 3: was about to die, I decided to have a conversation 21 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 3: with God. Imagine a drug smuggler speaking with God. But 22 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 3: that's what happened. The way I saw it, drug smuggling 23 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 3: was just a business. It wasn't a crime. 24 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: And while he was bleeding to death, he managed to pray, 25 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: no money in it. 26 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 3: Don't let me die. You have If you let me live, 27 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 3: I promise I will dedicate what's left in my life 28 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 3: to serving you. Forgive me. 29 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: Three decades, miguelankl is certain that the reason he's even 30 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: alive today is because of that prayer on the way 31 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,519 Speaker 1: to the hospital. He's convinced that that day God had 32 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 1: mercy on him, but the damage from the bullets that 33 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: ripped through his body left him without the use of 34 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: his legs and in a wheelchair permanently. These days, he 35 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: visits churches all over southern California, singing original songs about 36 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: his spiritual awakening. Meghlankis sits in an suv worked in 37 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,239 Speaker 1: front of a church where he's often invited to sing. 38 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: He's wearing a button up shirt and a dark blazer, 39 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: and he's waiting for his son Louis to bring his 40 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: wheelchair inside. The pastor greets him and takes him in 41 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: front of a congregation of about one hundred Mighlanklis scoots 42 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: his wheelchair up to the podium, puts on a pre 43 00:02:49,240 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 1: recorded backing track, and begins to sing. This song is 44 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: called No I'm Not Dead. The lyrics talk about how 45 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,679 Speaker 1: God completely transformed them from his old sinful ways in 46 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 1: the drug business, that before he was spiritually dead, but 47 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 1: that now he's alive. When Miguelankill was growing up in Bolivia, 48 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: before he got involved in the drug trade, he had 49 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: always wanted to be a singer, but back then he 50 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: wasn't interested in Christian music. 51 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 2: The Joe Abbia Gusta. 52 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 3: Ever since I was a kid, I've loved singing. I 53 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 3: always dreamed of becoming famous. 54 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: Mighelankill was raised by his grandmother in LAPAs, one of 55 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: the biggest cities in Bolivia. When he was seventeen, he 56 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: started a band with his friends, and when that group dissolved, 57 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 1: he auditioned solo at Loskulos, which was apparently the place 58 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: to be for live music in LAPAs. His first time 59 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: singing at Losskulos, he recalls the presenter going up on 60 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: stage and sayings estrada. 61 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 3: Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight at restaurants esculos, a new Bolivian 62 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 3: star is born with you, Miguel. 63 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 1: That night, Mighelanki took the stage wearing a flowered button 64 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: down a dark blazer in photus from the time. He 65 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: has brown wavy hair with sideburns that reached down to 66 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: his lower jaw. 67 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 3: And that night call people started clapping halfway through the song, 68 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 3: and in that moment, I knew that I would be 69 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 3: a singer for the rest. 70 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: Of my days. It's not hard to hear the roots 71 00:04:54,400 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: of Migelankin's style Sandrol American love songs from the eighties 72 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 1: and nineties, where a hair gilt Latin heart throb would 73 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 1: work the stage with those central performances, unbuttoned shirts and 74 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: so on, and Mighilanki starts doing really well as a singer. 75 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: A few years later, his songs were being played on 76 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: the radio. 77 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:36,679 Speaker 2: The second. 78 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: And then he even gets invited to Francisco's saw Hiante, 79 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: a legendary Saturday night variety show in Latin America which 80 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: was still based in Chile at the time. And even 81 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,719 Speaker 1: though Miguelankill was on his way to national stardom. Bolivia's 82 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: music industry wasn't big enough to make him the international 83 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:54,679 Speaker 1: sensation that he wanted to become. For that, he needed 84 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 1: to be in Mexico, Spain, the US and to go 85 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: to these places and to market himself. He needed money, 86 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: so he spoke to a friend whose family was in 87 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: the drug business. 88 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 3: By then, cocaine had become a thing in the US. 89 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 3: So I came to the conclusion that if I got 90 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 3: into drug trafficking, I could easily make a fortune. 91 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 1: His friend introduced him to Bolivia's most powerful drug cartel, 92 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: headed by Roberto Sarres Gomez, also known as the Cocaine King. 93 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: Swatis came from a family of cattle ranchers, but when 94 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 1: the drug became popular in the US, he invested in 95 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: coca plants and started producing cocaine. As consumer demand grew, 96 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: tons of cocaine were being produced in Bolivia. Roberto eventually 97 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: retired and handed control of the business to his nephews. 98 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: Remember that name because it's going to be important. 99 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 3: And this man became the main player and business partner 100 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,239 Speaker 3: of Escobars met a yin cartel. 101 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: The coca leaf is everywhere in Bolivia. It's been used 102 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: for thousands of years by the Aimata in Quechua for 103 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: ceremonial purposes, and many people chew it daily to stay 104 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: awake or to get an energy kick. It's also good 105 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: for altitude sickness and to stay off hunger. At any 106 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: market in the cities, you'll likely see giant bushels of 107 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: coca leaves, and the countryside is filled with coca fields. 108 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: It's also, of course, the key ingredient in cocaine. Bolivia 109 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: quickly became one of the biggest suppliers of coca leaves 110 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: to Columbia's cocaine labs, as well as a major producer 111 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: of cocaine itself. Mighlankl remembers seeing the cocaine King's ranch 112 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: for the first time. 113 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 3: It was an incredible amount of drugs. I'd never seen 114 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 3: anything like it. 115 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: He said. The house was filled with piles of bags 116 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: of cocaine base. Back then, the cartel would sell it 117 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: to the Colombians for about nine thousand dollars per kilo. 118 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: The Colombians would then smuggle it and sell it in 119 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: the US for many times more, and so in the 120 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: early eighties, Meghelankis started off by helping transport the merchandise 121 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: by land or by air, and later he became the 122 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: guy who coordinated bribes to local officials on people. 123 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 3: As an outsider. Going by what you see on TV, 124 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 3: the perception is that smugglers are bad, violent men who 125 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 3: are always talking about killing and so on. Bolivian and 126 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 3: Colombian drug traffickers, at least in those days, we're easy 127 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 3: going guys who were nice to talk to. 128 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: A few times Mighelankill came face to face with Pablo Escoba. 129 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 4: Puanta's basis Yannis Saio, and. 130 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 3: Whenever he saw it necessary, he would get on one 131 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 3: of his private jets and go check on his business 132 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 3: associate in Bolivia. On three occasions, I arrived to the 133 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 3: ranch and there he was. I would just say hi, 134 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 3: shake his hands, and that was it. 135 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 2: I see. 136 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 4: That is stancio de manos pro dai manamas. 137 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 1: To believe in smugglers. Escobar's business brought more than just 138 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: enormous wealth. It also brought scrutiny from the US Drug 139 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: Enforcement Agency or DEA. The DEA had been operating in 140 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: Bolivia since the nineteen seventies, and they often worked with 141 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: the government to crack down on illicit coca plantations and trade. 142 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 1: But in the eighties and nineties, the US started going 143 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: after the cartels more aggressively. To do that, they had 144 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: to work closely with local law enforcement, but sometimes the 145 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: cartels were also working with the police Guando Jo at Abajama. 146 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 3: When I arrived to work, there was already a special 147 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 3: anti drug trafficking force called the Leopards. 148 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: The Leopards were Bolivia's elite anti drug force, but they 149 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: were also known to take bribes. 150 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 3: So we started bribing the commander so that he would 151 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 3: allow the drugs to go through. 152 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: One days, the drug lord asked Migi Lankill to deliver 153 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: a bribe to a commander, but according to Miguelankel, there 154 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: was a misunderstanding with grave consequences. He says he never 155 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: received the money to pay the commander of so he 156 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: never ended up going through with the bribe. When the 157 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: police commander didn't get the money he was promised, he 158 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: got angry and retaliated with arrests and academy. 159 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,199 Speaker 3: I never had a chance to communicate with to tell 160 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 3: him that I never received the money. He assumed I stole, 161 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 3: and without thinking twice he sent his own criminals to 162 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 3: kill They were criminals, but they were also my friends. 163 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 3: But that's how the drug business works. You have no friends, 164 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 3: You just have accomplices who at any moment will turn 165 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 3: on you after a simple order from the boss. 166 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: Which brings us back to the day at the roadside 167 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: restaurant when a gunman walked in the door and fired 168 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 1: at him. That day, a bullet had shattered his teeth 169 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: and broken his jaw in two. While dying on the 170 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: way to the hospital, the first question that came to 171 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 1: his mind was why I was. 172 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 3: A man who was doing things right. I was an 173 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 3: honest drug smuggler, if the word honest even fits in 174 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 3: this type of activity. 175 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 1: Dentro made it to the hospital alive, but he woke 176 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,959 Speaker 1: up without the use of his legs. He was paralyzed 177 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: from the waist down and he would have to be 178 00:11:53,960 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 1: in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Fearing 179 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: that Rocasuarees would send more hitman to finish the job, 180 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: Miguelankell fled the country for several months. When he returned 181 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: to Bolivia, he was a changed man. He had found 182 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: God and now he was focused on two things. Number one, 183 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 1: writing gospel songs with lyrics that talked about peace and 184 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: love and number two, fixing his wrongdoings and seeing if 185 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: he could help the authorities bring down the cartel. So 186 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: he decides to get in touch with Frank Mcaliney, then 187 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: the head of the DEA in Bolivia Espanol concerto. 188 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 3: I'm speaking with a gringo accent. He tells me that 189 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 3: I'm a criminal, So I replied, my dear friend, I 190 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 3: was once a criminal, but I am no longer, and 191 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 3: that's exactly why I want to work with you. 192 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: After the exchange, Mighilankle agreed to provide information about cartel 193 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: operations and to help build a case against drug lord Procasuadis. 194 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: Eventually Mighilanki would have to testify against them at a 195 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: US court. In exchange, the DEA would give him a 196 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:13,319 Speaker 1: cash salary, find him a home, a car, and eventually 197 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 1: they would help him get situated in the US. According 198 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 1: to Miguelankill, he and his family were offered to be 199 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: put on the US government's Witness Security program, meaning they 200 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 1: would be relocated to an unknown place with a new 201 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: identity for their own safety. The offer, he says, was verbal, 202 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: It was never put down on paper. 203 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,319 Speaker 3: It would help me find the job so I can 204 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 3: work like everyone else, and then I would completely disappear. 205 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,959 Speaker 1: Once the DA built a case against Rocasuatis, Mighielankill was 206 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 1: asked to help find out his location and tip off 207 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: the DA with information on his whereabouts. Through his contacts 208 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: in the drug world, Miguelankill managed to track down a 209 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 1: flight that Rocassuatis would soon be boarding in Miami. He 210 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: then trace his movements all the way to the nowteen 211 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: bedroom mansion that he owned in Los Angeles. 212 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 3: They arrested him, and that's when I had to immediately 213 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 3: leave Olivia. 214 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: Milankin recalls quickly packing things up, getting into a car 215 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 1: with his family, and being escorted to the airport by 216 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: four d agents lost one was. 217 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 3: Less than five and the others around seven. They didn't 218 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 3: really know what was happening. 219 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: Luis, who is now in his thirties, was that five 220 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: year old. 221 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 4: I remember having to go from like one house to 222 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 4: the other with my dad and my brothers days before 223 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 4: leaving Bolivia to come to the US. When you're that 224 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 4: small and you think that's how the world functions, and 225 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 4: that's what I thought was normal. 226 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 3: And when the plane took off, I could finally breathe 227 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 3: peacefully because I knew that I was heading. 228 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: Towards me, but I didn't know that was that. 229 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 3: Once I helped him put this guy away, the DEA 230 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 3: would eventually betray. 231 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 2: Me, maybe coming up on Latino U s A. The 232 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 2: DEA sends me and his family to the US, where 233 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 2: he would testify against the drug lord roc Ass in 234 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 2: exchange for a better, safer life with his family, or 235 00:15:40,520 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 2: so he thought. Stay with us. Hey, we're back and 236 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 2: we're going to continue now with the story of Miguelanghill, 237 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 2: the Bolivian drug smuggler turned religious singer. And when we 238 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 2: left off, the da had taken mielang Hill to the 239 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 2: US to seek protection and to testify against his former boss, 240 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 2: the drug lord Jorge Rocasuairez producer Andres Cavaliro picks up 241 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 2: the story now. 242 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: When Miguelankill and his family got to California in January 243 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: of nineteen ninety two, they started living in a hotel. 244 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 4: There was always agents around. They were pretty fun too. 245 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: Luis Migilankia's youngest son, says that DEA agents would show 246 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 1: up to give his dad surveillance equipment for monitoring drug 247 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 1: activity along the US Mexico border. They would also bring 248 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 1: big stashes of cash for him. 249 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,680 Speaker 4: To my understanding, I was part of my dad's job, 250 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 4: and I knew I couldn't say anything about anything. Our neighbors. 251 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 4: The kids would like talk about their parents and what 252 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 4: they did and stuff, and like I knew that I 253 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 4: couldn't mention anything about what my dad did. 254 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 1: The Dea finally got to my house while Miguelankill waited 255 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,679 Speaker 1: to testify against Procasuades. By then he had been passed 256 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: on to another supervisor, which worried him because Frank, his 257 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: original contact in Bolivia, had his back. This new guy, 258 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:57,399 Speaker 1: he didn't really get along with us much. By the 259 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 1: end of the year, it was time for Miguelankill to 260 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: finally testify against j Ross and there he was in 261 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: the same courtroom waiting for the hearing to beginment. 262 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 3: He looked me straight in the eyes, almost in disbelief 263 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 3: that I was there testifying against him. Of course, there 264 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 3: was the feeling of vengeance after someone orders he killed, 265 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 3: but those feelings went away after I became Christian, so 266 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 3: in the end I just felt victory over him. It 267 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:30,360 Speaker 3: was an act of justice. 268 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 1: The Hostisia Milanki didn't only talk about Rocasuaris, he also 269 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: outed other drug dealers in Bolivia Olivia frankament. 270 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 3: If I had to go back to Bolivia, I honestly 271 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 3: don't know from which direction the bullet would come from. 272 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 1: In part because of Mielanka's testimony, Rokasuadis was eventually sentenced 273 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: to thirty five years in prison. In the eight months 274 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 1: that followed, communication with the DA started to slow down. 275 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: Megaielanka started to worry. They stopped responding to his calls 276 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: his messages. He helped the DA catch the big fish, 277 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 1: and they disappeared on him. One day, two men showed 278 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: up at his house to pick up the surveillance equipment. 279 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 1: They also gave him the official notice that he no 280 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:28,640 Speaker 1: longer worked for the DEA. After several weeks, Migailankin says, 281 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 1: the DEA informed them that in the end, he would 282 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 1: not be referred to the witness protection program. Miguelankhill was floored. 283 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:41,400 Speaker 1: Not being placed in witness protection meant that after testifying 284 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: for the DEA, he was now on his own. Not 285 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: only would he have to hide out from the drug 286 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:49,439 Speaker 1: lords who wanted him dead, he also had to avoid 287 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: being deported back to Bolivia, because now that his job 288 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: with the da was over, his permission to be in 289 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: the United States would vanish as well, and it wasn't 290 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 1: going to be easy. We call the DEA and they 291 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: declined to comment on why Migelancle was discharged or about 292 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 1: whether or not he was promised witness protection in the 293 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,919 Speaker 1: first place. The Witness Protection program is officially called WITSEC, 294 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: and the way it works is the DEA refers candidates 295 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,640 Speaker 1: for the program to the US Department of Justice. It's 296 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,879 Speaker 1: the Attorney General's office that makes the final decision to 297 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: approve it or not, so the DEA on their own 298 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: doesn't have the power to guarantee that somebody will make 299 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,919 Speaker 1: it into the program. In two thousand and three, a 300 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: professor at the University of Nebraska did a study looking 301 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 1: at cases of foreign informants in the Witness Security program. 302 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 1: He found a number of instances of informants who said 303 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 1: the DEA did not keep verbal promises to place them 304 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: in the program. And because of the language of the 305 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: Witness Security law, US agents can make promises to potential 306 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 1: witnesses without any legal obligations to follow through, and even 307 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 1: if agents aren't purposefully trying to deceive witnesses. Given the 308 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:05,919 Speaker 1: complexity of the process, there's a lot of room for misunderstandings. 309 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: Migilankin said he would have never worked with the Americans 310 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,879 Speaker 1: unless they offered him and his family protection Once it 311 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: was all over, and even though he didn't have it 312 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 1: in writing, he just went with it, trust him that 313 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:22,200 Speaker 1: in the end the DEEA would take care of him. Frank, 314 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 1: the former agent in Bolivia, is the only person who 315 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 1: can verify Mighilankil's claim that the DEA promised him witness protection. 316 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 1: We try to contact Frank multiple times. We even try 317 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: to relay a message through a family member, but he 318 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:39,360 Speaker 1: never got back to us. Now out of a job 319 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: and without legal status in the US, Mighilankil had to 320 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: figure out what to do next. He and his wife 321 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: were already having marital problems and they eventually split up. 322 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 1: She took the older kids and he left with his 323 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: youngest son, Luis, to Virginia. De k Ia akomer. 324 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 3: I had to figure out how to start a new life. 325 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 3: How was that going on to heat me on a 326 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 3: wheelchair being pushed by a seven year old child to 327 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 3: help me get to the nearest food bank. Translating for 328 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 3: me forget about it. 329 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 1: Once Miki Lancke used up all of his savings, he 330 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 1: and Louise went on the lamb. They started sleeping in 331 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 1: people's garages at churches. They eventually rented a room where 332 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: they ended up staying more prominently. One afternoon, someone showed 333 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,879 Speaker 1: up at their door. Louise had just gotten home from school. 334 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 1: He goes to the door and sees two men dressed 335 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:32,360 Speaker 1: up as plumbers. 336 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 4: And knock on the door and I'm like hi, and 337 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 4: they're like, oh, we're plumbers. The owner sent us. Dude, 338 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 4: I'm a kid. There's nowhere I'm letting you in my 339 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 4: house because you said the owner said. Even if the 340 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:47,119 Speaker 4: owner came, there's no way you're coming in, you know. 341 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 4: So I was like till I'll be right back, you know. 342 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 4: I locked the door. I go upstairs to my dad 343 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 4: and I'm like, hey, plumbers are here. But my dad 344 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:56,439 Speaker 4: was like, yeah, let them in. 345 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 1: According to Louise, the men look at his dad and 346 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: ask him if his name was Mighelani Vie sents you. 347 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 3: I told him yes. 348 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: They were I n S agents in disguise. Today they're 349 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: known as Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE agents. 350 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 3: We're here to detain you after getting work that you 351 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:17,679 Speaker 3: are a dangerous criminal. 352 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 4: And that's when my dad tells the agent, if you 353 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 4: arrest me and you deport me, then they're going to 354 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 4: kill me in my country for serving your nation. And 355 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 4: that kind of shocked the agent a little. 356 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 1: The officer asks if he had any proof of what 357 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 1: he was saying. Megilanki brings his passport and he shows 358 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 1: them the special visa that DA had issued years earlier 359 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: when they brought him to the US. 360 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 3: This isn't a regular visa, it's one that you get 361 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,199 Speaker 3: when you work for the government. The man looked at 362 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 3: me and said, yes, that's what it looks like. 363 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 1: Megi Lankin says that the immigration officers decided not to 364 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: detain him that afternoon, but they said that he would 365 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: have to fight his deportation in court. According to court documents, 366 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 1: Mighilankil was charged for being an alien who is not 367 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: in possession of an entry document. The charges also stated 368 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: that the government had reason to believe he had been 369 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: an illicit trafficker or assisted illicit trafficking of a controlled substance. 370 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 1: To Mighilankil, it looked like he was being double crossed 371 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 1: by the DEA. They were the only ones who knew 372 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: about his history in the drug trade. On the day 373 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: of the hearing at immigration court, Mighilanka says that the 374 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:44,880 Speaker 1: government's attorney claimed to have spoken with the DEA about 375 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:45,920 Speaker 1: their relationship with him. 376 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:53,640 Speaker 3: No loc no semos. What did the agents say from 377 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 3: the start? He never worked for us, We don't know him. 378 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,240 Speaker 4: And my dad and I were just like, what these 379 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:06,159 Speaker 4: agents that would go to my house, they don't know him? 380 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 4: In my head of that, you're kidding, right, this is 381 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 4: a joke. No, he never worked for the DA. 382 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: Miglankin then gives a judge a copy of a document 383 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: he held onto an informal contract signed by he and 384 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: the DEA for his work with them. The contract refers 385 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 1: to him as a quote DEA cooperating individual, but the 386 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 1: second line from the top reads quote I have no 387 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 1: official status implied or otherwise as agent or employee of 388 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:38,159 Speaker 1: the DEA. This meant that he was with them, but 389 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: that he wasn't really one of them. It was also 390 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 1: the reason he was getting paid in cash. Eventually, frank 391 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: now retired from the DEA, agreed to testify in Mighlanki's 392 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:52,359 Speaker 1: favor via telephone, we got a copy of Frank Safa 393 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,639 Speaker 1: David where he confirmed that Mighalankin helped the US capture 394 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: Rocasuades and that his life would be in danger were 395 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 1: he to be deported back to Olivia. According to court documents, 396 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 1: the government did not provide any evidence for the smuggling allegations, 397 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: so the judge eventually dropped those charges, and years after 398 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:14,640 Speaker 1: the immigration charges were settled as well. It took four 399 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 1: and a half years from the start of the case 400 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 1: for the official ruling to come in the mail in 401 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: two thousand and two. 402 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,440 Speaker 4: We were sitting outside on the stairs when we got 403 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 4: the mail. I opened this envelope and there it was, 404 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 4: and I was a ruling in our favor, and that 405 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 4: was it. That was over. 406 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 1: Louise was also protected from deportation along with his dad. 407 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 1: I asked Louise, looking back at everything that happened to them, 408 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 1: if he felt that they had found justice. 409 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:53,439 Speaker 4: When the drug lord decided that he was going to 410 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 4: end my dad's life, he didn't end it, thank God 411 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:03,919 Speaker 4: for that. He just didn't know that he was condemning 412 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 4: his children to live in a certain lifestyle. You determine 413 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 4: how they're going to live for the rest of their lives, 414 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 4: and I think that is not fair. 415 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: On one end, there was Rocaires, the bad guy who 416 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: tried to kill his dad but instead let him confine 417 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,479 Speaker 1: to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. And 418 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 1: on the other end there were the Dea, people who 419 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 1: were supposed to be the good. 420 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:36,360 Speaker 4: Guys, a group of men that work to make things right, 421 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 4: come into your life and they tell you we're going 422 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,399 Speaker 4: to make things right, and they paint you a picture 423 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,160 Speaker 4: of how they're going to fix everything as long as 424 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 4: your dad works for them, and then at the end 425 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:51,919 Speaker 4: of the day they bail. Then what do you turn to? 426 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:54,120 Speaker 4: What do you look for? 427 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 1: We should mention here that despite the murky nature of 428 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:11,119 Speaker 1: the world of drug smugglers and informants, we have been 429 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 1: able to corroborate many of the elements of Megailankil's life story. 430 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 1: We have court documents from his immigration trial, court transcripts 431 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: of the case when he testified against Rogasuadis, and then 432 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:25,440 Speaker 1: we found a ton of Bolivian newspaper articles ranging from 433 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: the eighties unto the late nineties that confirm his accounts. 434 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 1: It's hard to say how common stories like megelankiins are. 435 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: There aren't exactly a lot of hard numbers available on 436 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:38,719 Speaker 1: people who feel betrayed by the DEA, but we do 437 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: know that US law enforcement and military so often rely 438 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 1: on foreigners like Meghelankil to risk their lives in order 439 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 1: to complete their missions. Think of the Iraqi and Afghan 440 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 1: translators who work with the army, for example. These people 441 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 1: are vulnerable. Often they have little to lose, and it's 442 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: worth it for them to make a bet on the 443 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 1: US government and hope everything works out the best. For 444 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 1: some it does. Others aren't as lucky, and if the 445 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 1: US loses the trust of people like Miguelankil, is going 446 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 1: to be a lot harder to put people like Roars 447 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 1: in prison. In two thousand and eight, after more than 448 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: three decades operating in Bolivia, prison Eva Morales gave the 449 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 1: deaight three months to leave the country, accusing them of 450 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:36,400 Speaker 1: espionage and of fomenting violence territory. Meanwhile, Rocasuadis was extradited 451 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: from the US to Bolivia in twenty eighteen. Mighelankili texted 452 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 1: me a picture showing the former drug lord walking freely 453 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 1: on the airport tarmac, wearing plain clothes, being escorted by 454 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:48,360 Speaker 1: three men. 455 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 3: We'll see how much he suffered in prison. Soon he 456 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 3: will be free, but I will still be on my wheelchair, 457 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,480 Speaker 3: suffering the consequences from being on wheelchair. 458 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 1: After arriving in Bolivia, Rokasuadis claimed to have health problems 459 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: while in prison. Soon after being relocated to a local hospital, 460 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 1: Roasts escaped. The Bolivian authorities are still looking for his whereabouts. 461 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: One local newspaper released a video that allegedly showed Roads, 462 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 1: now in his late sixties, peacefully eating at a restaurant 463 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:34,960 Speaker 1: in Santana de Yacuma. Back in the California church where 464 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:51,760 Speaker 1: Miguelankill is invited to sing, he finishes up his last song. Afterwards, 465 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:54,520 Speaker 1: people from the congregation come up to him to take 466 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 1: pictures with them or buy a copy of his CD. 467 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 4: YO. 468 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 1: Milan isn't afraid to confront the mistakes he has made 469 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: in his life. They come up again and again when 470 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 1: he shares his testimony at church. Talking about those mistakes 471 00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 1: and repenting for them have given him a purpose. It's 472 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 1: a near death experience to inspire Miglankin to do what 473 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 1: he thought was right and help the Dea. In turn, 474 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:33,000 Speaker 1: he put his faith in the Dea to do right 475 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:36,080 Speaker 1: by him, but he now realizes that he put that 476 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 1: faith in the wrong place and that at the end 477 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:41,920 Speaker 1: of the day, the only one he can really trust 478 00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:43,800 Speaker 1: is God alone. 479 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 2: This episode originally aired in January of twenty nineteen. It 480 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:30,960 Speaker 2: was produced by Andres Cavallero and edited by Marlon Bishop. 481 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:36,120 Speaker 2: The voice you heard translated for Miguelanghill was actor Raul Castillo. 482 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:39,160 Speaker 2: He's known for his work in the TV series Seven 483 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:42,680 Speaker 2: Seconds and a Typical and in the Sun Dance Award 484 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 2: winning film We the Animals. The Latino USA team includes 485 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 2: viedmacs Sofia Palisa, Ka, Luis Trees, Antonio Sejido, Yamoca, Gino 486 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:57,720 Speaker 2: Alis Escarce, and Alejandra Salasa, with help from Raoul Beres. 487 00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:01,720 Speaker 2: Our engineers are Stephanie LAbau and Julia Grusso. Additional engineering 488 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 2: this week by Lea Shaw. Our director of Programming and 489 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 2: Operations in Natalia Fide Hutz. Our digital editor is Amandel Gandra. 490 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 2: Our New York Women's Foundation Ignite fellow is Julia Rocha. 491 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:14,800 Speaker 2: Our interns are Sophia Sanchez and Marie Mendosa. Our theme 492 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:17,520 Speaker 2: music was composed by Zane Roinos. If you like the 493 00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:20,240 Speaker 2: music you heard on this episode, stop by Latinousa dot 494 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 2: org and check out our weekly Spotify playlist. I'm your 495 00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 2: host and executive producer Maria Giojosa. Join us again on 496 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:29,840 Speaker 2: our next episode, and in the meantime, find us on 497 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:31,240 Speaker 2: all of your social media. 498 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:39,640 Speaker 4: Chao Latino USA is made possible in part by the 499 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 4: wind Coat Foundation, the Ford Foundation, working with visionaries on 500 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:48,840 Speaker 4: the frontlines of social change worldwide, and the John D. 501 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:49,800 Speaker 4: And Catherine T. 502 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:50,880 Speaker 1: MacArthur Foundation.